I think by now most folks have reasoned the machine in the frosted box is an analog drum machine. Lots of great ideas for other types of machines have been mentioned, but in reality …
So what’s it gonna look like, what’s it gonna offer? Not so much what do you want, but where do you think it will end up.
Any control/programming inovations in store?
I’m thinking 6-8 voices, effects per track, no sampling capability, no digital machines (that’s what your MD is for). Individual outs configurable to CV drum trigs. No midi out other than clock and transpose. Individual track length and multiplier. Sound-locks per step. Microtiming and retrig.
Hoping for some kind of controller like the crossfader on the OT. Doesn’t have to be a crossfader, but something with scene like control.
I was very convinced that an analog drum machine was going to be revealed in Berlin.
The mystery machine could be it, yes…
But lately I’m not sure anymore that an analog drum machine will be released at all, because the AF is very unique & actually absolutely mad in this regard already, if you have a collection of drum patches like Daren Ager’s DRUMA.
Sure, AF/AK are not advertised as drum machines, and maybe a dedicated drum machine would have different FX & routing/outputs/whatever and a UI optimized for percussion, but still!
not convinced that “analog drum machine” is missing from Elektron’s portfolio.
If they release such a thing I want two things primarily:
A wide range, so that it can’t be easily be replaced with a couple of samples.
And a wide sweet spot, so that you can tweak it live without fearing some horrible, speaker/ear/sanity destroying noise coming out. This is IMO where the A4 fails as a drum machine, even though you can get some great drums out of it. The settings are just so damn vulnerable, particularly on kicks. A very minor change can completely destroy the sound. The settings for each drum sound should be fine tuned in a way that will make them very difficult to sound bad (but still have a wide range - I know, I might be asking too much).
Everything else, like lots of outputs and nice FX are a bonus. A great sounding analog compressor on the main outs would be awesome though.
I get what you’re saying but some boring items are quite necessary for studios. Mixers are pretty boring (unless we’re talking some super sexy ones that cost like 100k or more), EQ’s and compressors are pretty boring, and yes, drum machines can be a bit boring. But, if they get it right, an Elektron analog drum machine can be something quite special.
I suppose that’s not a MAJOR box. I guess the hidden thing is a complement (such as an FX for all Elektron boxes, or a kind of Maschine Device for the Octatrack, with pads and sliders)
That would be really weird (and a lot of work) from Elektron to launch two different beasts at the same time.
I get what you’re saying but some boring items are quite necessary for studios. Mixers are pretty boring (unless we’re talking some super sexy ones that cost like 100k or more), EQ’s and compressors are pretty boring, and yes, drum machines can be a bit boring. But, if they get it right, an Elektron analog drum machine can be something quite special.[/quote]
I agree with all your points except that we do kinda expect state of the art “instruments” from Elektron (unless we count anomalies like TM-1 and designer hoodies). I just hope they’re not just recycling the analog science from A4 into yet another incarnation (I find the keys a bit underwhelming too TBH). It would make perfect economic sense in some ways to trot out an analog DM but it would have to be pretty damn special to compete in the current market I suppose… Kinda like what you say above - it has to beat samples and all the crop of new analogs like the Bear, the Beats, the Tempest, etc etc across a diverse range of price points.
On the plus side, if it as an analog drum, then they get none of my money next year so the missus will be ecstatic
I don’t think it will be an analog drum machine for a number of reasons:
Elektron stated it will not compete with any of the existing line up.
If they were to make an analog drum machine, it would most likely be based around the same technology as the A4, but in order to succeed it would need at least 8 voices to be taken seriously, therefore it would probably be more expensive, especially given that everyone will want a output per voice. In addition, to surpass the A4 drum synthesis capability each voice would need to have more capabilities.
The market already has a few high end analog drum machines, but these do not seem to be terribly good sellers, especially when compared to the kind of sales figures Elektron gear gets.
Elektron gear is promoted as being “independant” meaning that it can be used alone to make a whole track, for a analog drum machine to achieve this it would need to have chromatically tuneable sounds, then it is getting dangerously close to competing with the A4.
But, I might well be wrong.
Oh yeah and any A4 users that have not checked out Druma yet, do so as you might be surprised. I was.
Serious question - how many drums synths does the world really need?
I’ll be quite happy to buy the Druma (and the Classic pack) once the new OS is out (can’t be arsed friggin about with versions).
Then I’ve got some nice drums in the A4 - an Octa brimming with quality samples, an LXR which is more fun than should really be allowed and a trusty 606 just because.
I just want drums that ‘work’ and I’m guessing that’s the same for most folk (and that’s why it’s cool when someone who knows what they’re doing releases a pack). Drum synthesis seems pretty hairy in my limited experience, and from just reading on here, again, I think that’s a view shared by many. What I’m trying to say is this
maybe there’s limited audience for real drum synthesis?
Is there any real economically viable, undeveloped science in drum machine technology today? Never used synthesis methods, experimental stuff etc that can cut exciting new sounds out of the finite spectra.
If the answer to 2 is yes then what does it really give us? Better drum sounds? Easier ways to make better drum sounds? To perform better drum sounds maybe?
Will it be better than micro tonic?
Does the machinedrum sound better than micro tonic?
I mean - a drum machine right? It makes beats…
Yeah but does it cut through the mix
Boom-chick-boom-boom-chick
Please please please Elektron - don’t let it be a drum machine.
try DRUMA or your own drum sounds with some “experimental” performance macros set up… morph a clicky bassdrum into a melodic bassline while turning a cowbell into a pad and glitching up the snare… with a single knob. then use another knob to mess with the FX and increasing the amp attack on all sounds… there’s your Elektron madness
i think it’s quite simple. market, benefits, and company.
we could be boring about new analog drum machine.
but edm kids think ‘i needs analog instruments!’
cuz all celeb vids said they got old uber analog machines.
but they are not rich…
so i think there is market for cheap and affordable analog instruments.
microbrute is proof. cheap and unique sound/feature. very smart move.
but that is not elektron style.
and analog keys are elektron’s new platform for new customers.
new strategy for new target customers.
so we can think about new elektron analog drum machine with 4x4 pads.
cuz elektron needs some new customers… not us… (naturally both is the best)
Indeed the A4 with proper mapping of drum sounds on a keyboard oder even an external device(pads?!) could be a very powerful four voice analog drum synth. So why not get a second one.
^ That same thought has crossed my mind, I love using it for drums, but now with poly mode and +drive a second one is very enticing, even though I don’t NEED another the value of it compared to other gear is high becuase of the capabilities. The FX are superb I think too, although I hope that the chorus will be expanded to include phasing and flanging, then it would be even better.
+1
since they´re digital in nature I can see a lot of potential on this side of the A4/AK
I think it would be cool to select between different modulation fx, different reverbs and delays, using juts 3 at the same time, of course, but more variety in this side will expand the kind of textures you can get out of this machines alone
Said that I really love how the chorus open the stereo image of any sound and make them lush without having to dive into pages of parameters…this is one of the most inmediate chorus I ever used…for me it´s very musical like the ones in the roland junos
That would be EPIC!
